Maximizing Retirement Clarity: Case Study - Susan and Steve

You've Done Everything Right. So Why Does Retirement Still Feel Like a Guess?

You've saved diligently for 30+ years. You've made smart career moves. You've lived below your means when others spent freely.

But now, as retirement shifts from "someday" to "soon," new questions keep you up at night:

"Are we actually ready or are we kidding ourselves?"

"What if we're missing something critical?"

"How do we start living off what we've built without fear?"

You're not interested in winging it or crossing your fingers. You want a plan grounded in reality—one that reflects your life, your values, and helps you step into retirement with clarity and confidence.

If this sounds familiar, Susan and Steve's story might sound a lot like yours.Susan & Steve’s Situation:

The Surface: Everything Looked Good

Profile:

• Ages 54 and 56, married with two adult children

• One child in college, one in grad school

• Considering retirement within 5 years

• Home paid off

• Assets across 401(k)s, IRAs, and taxable accounts

They’ve done the hard work, but they don’t want to just hope it’s enough. They want to know.

On paper, they were model savers. But something didn't feel right.

The Reality: Uncertainty Beneath the Numbers

Despite doing everything "by the book," Susan and Steve felt stuck:

Steve's Concern:

"I've been in the same role for 15 years. I'm ready to step back, but what if the market tanks right when we retire? We watched friends lose half their savings in 2008. I don't want to be 70 and still working because we retired too early."

Susan's Concern:

"We have eight different accounts between us. I have no idea if they're working together or just sitting there. And what about health insurance? Steve's company plan covers us now, but what happens in the gap before Medicare? I've seen those premiums—they're terrifying."

Their Shared Fear:

They'd worked too hard and saved too well to blow it with poor planning. But everywhere they looked—online calculators, conflicting advice, generic retirement seminars—nothing felt personal enough to trust.

Their Financial Goals

• Understand the earliest they can retire without financial stress

• Coordinate income streams and withdrawals in a tax-efficient way

• Create a sustainable retirement income strategy

• Prepare for healthcare costs before and after Medicare

• Update estate plans and legacy goals

• Feel confident, organized, and ready for what’s next

How We Helped

We turned uncertainty into confidence:

• Retirement Readiness Analysis: Modeled multiple retirement timelines, income needs, inflation, and market risk

• Investment Consolidation: Aligned asset allocation and simplified portfolio management

• Tax-Efficient Income Planning: Coordinated Roth conversions, RMDs, and Social Security timing

• Healthcare Planning: Designed strategies for pre-Medicare coverage and Medicare enrollment

• Estate & Legacy Planning: Coordinated updates to wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations

• Ongoing Support: Proactive monitoring so Susan and Steve feel confident year after year

Financial Planning Services Provided:

Retirement Planning & Income Strategies | Investment Account Consolidation & Optimization | Tax-Efficient Withdrawal Planning |Healthcare Planning (Pre & Post-Medicare)| Estate & Legacy Planning | Ongoing Plan Monitoring & Adjustments

The Transformation

With a clear plan, Susan and Steve:

• Could retire confidently, knowing their income would last

• Coordinated withdrawals and taxes to optimize every dollar

• Simplified investments and reduced financial stress

• Planned for healthcare and legacy needs without guesswork

They weren’t just ready to retire, they were ready to thrive in retirement.

What Made the Difference?

The Wealthspan Review™ Approach

Unlike traditional financial planning that focuses only on investments, our process addresses your complete financial life:

✓ Retirement Income Architecture (not just portfolio returns)
✓ Tax Coordination (accounts working together, not against each other)
✓ Risk Management (healthcare, longevity, market volatility)
✓ Estate & Legacy (beyond just beneficiaries)
✓ Ongoing Adaptation (life changes, your plan adapts with you)

Most importantly: We build plans around people, not products.

Is This Your Story Too?

You Might Be Ready for a Wealthspan Review™ If:

☐ You're within 10 years of retirement and wonder if you're truly ready
☐ You have multiple retirement accounts but no coordinated strategy
☐ unsure how to optimize Social Security, Roth conversions, or withdrawal sequencing
☐ Healthcare costs between retirement and Medicare concern you
☐ You want to retire but fear market volatility or running out of money
☐ You'd like to retire earlier but don't know if the numbers work

If you checked 2 or more boxes, let's talk.

Why It Matters

You don’t need another spreadsheet. You need a strategy.

• You’ve Built the Foundation – Your savings and sacrifices deserve a plan that makes them count.

• Tax Smart, Not Tax Surprised – Coordinated account sequencing can save thousands over your retirement years.

• Make Your Money Work as Hard as You Did – Clarity, strategy, and flexibility replace vague estimates.

• Health and Legacy Matter Too – Retirement is about care, clarity, and the mark you leave behind.

• Retire with Confidence, Not Guesswork – Know your plan works through life’s twists and turns.

Let’s Build Your Retirement Playbook, Together

We specialize in helping pre-retirees like Susan and Steve move from “almost” to confident.